Several athletes ‘go missing’ after Commonwealth Games
Police Scotland is continuing to investigate reports from media outlets in Uganda and Pakistan that five boxers failed to return with their delegations from Glasgow, where the multi-sport event involving 3,000 competitors concluded on Sunday.
At this stage, the precise number of competitors who remain unaccounted for has not been disclosed, with the force saying only that it has received reports of “several athletes who are unaccounted for” as enquiries continue to establish the circumstances surrounding their absence.
The main focus is Uganda’s boxing team, with four of its six members failing to join the rest of the delegation for Tuesday’s journey home.
NBS Sport named them as Nuhu Batte, Angel Katushabe, Ibrahim Khemis and Emily Nakalema, while the remainder of the Ugandan delegation returned without them.
Although there has been no official confirmation of their intentions, one of the four boxers told the Ugandan outlet that the group planned to seek asylum in Scotland and continue their boxing careers there, believing they would have access to better training facilities and greater opportunities.
The athlete appealed for understanding and asked not to be judged for the decision, while a Team Uganda spokesperson approached by BBC Scotland News declined to comment.
The cases also include Qudrat Ullah, a member of Pakistan’s boxing team whose absence was reported by media outlets in his country.
According to Geo News, he was last seen in his room six hours before he was due to meet his teammates and begin the journey home.
When officials went to look for him, he was no longer there, although the team manager reportedly had his passport and return ticket.
Following reports concerning the two teams, Police Scotland confirmed that enquiries were under way and that it had begun liaising with the Home Office. “Police Scotland has received reports of several athletes who are unaccounted for.
Enquiries are ongoing to assess the circumstances, and early engagement is taking place with the Home Office,” a spokesperson said, according to Reuters.
The organisers worked closely throughout the competition with Police Scotland, Border Force and UK Visas and Immigration to ensure that arrivals and departures complied with regulations.-Insidethegames
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